Worth Of Ferndale Post Office

July 28, 1985

ON JULY 21 Lake Sentinel columnist Bill Bond decreased the size of the Ferndale post office building to that of a ''22-cent postage stamp.''

This post office is by no means one of the smallest in Florida. In an article in the Leesburg Commercial on April 23, 1984, reference is made to the post office building northwest of Sumatra that is on blocks and about 12 feet square. Another building mentioned was the post office in Ochopee, which is a sheet metal structure barely 7 by 8 feet.

The Ferndale post office is at the very least 20 by 12 feet, making it 240 square feet.

Bond quoted the Rev. Frank Mickler of the Church of God as saying, ''We don't want to see them close our post office.'' He did not quote Mickler as saying that all elderly people who did not come each morning for their mail were checked on to determine if they needed help.

I understand from the granddaughter of a former postmaster that the ''twisted metal coat hanger'' Bond mentioned as being used to file the FBI's most wanted posters is a holder issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

Bond spoke of the post office as the place ''to hear the latest rumors, most of which are unfounded.'' All post office lobbies are meeting places for people. I'm sure if Bond spent some time in all Lake County post office lobbies, he would hear ''unfounded rumors.''

Bond's column implied that the Ferndale post office would be closed in September. To close this post office, the determination must be made in writing and must include findings of all the required considerations covered by law.

The determination to close or consolidate must be made available to all persons served by the post office at least 60 days before the closing is effective. Any person affected may appeal to the Postal Rate Commision.

As stated on the editorial page of The Orlando Sentinel July 23, the Postal Service has reported surpluses since 1982. Why then is the Ferndale Post Office such a drain, as the postal service people in Orlando say?